Weigh basket



May 26, 1925.

F. L. FLEMING WEIGH BASKET Filed Nov. 30. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet n f @ZMENQR' g l/ 4. rf

F. L. FLEMING WEIGH BASKET May 26,1925. i 1,539,360

Filed Nov, 30, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR @www May 26, 1925. 1,539,660

F. l.. FLEMING WEIGH BASKET Filed Nov` 30. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES 'PATENT `FFI CE.

FRANK L. FLEMING, F CARRICK BOROUG H, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR v'lO PHILLIPS MINE a MILL SUPPLY co., or PIrfrsBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

WEIGH BASKET.

Application filed November To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK L. FLEMING, ia 'citizen of the vUnited States, residing at Carrick Borough, county oit' Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lVeigh Baskets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to weighbaskets for weighing coal as it is discharged from the minecars, and more particularly to weigh-baskets having means for gradually discharging the coal therefrom.

There the coal is discharged directly from a weigh-basket onto a screen, and particularly onto a screen of the bar type, over 'which the coal slides by gravity, it is desirable that the coal be gradually discharged onto the screen instead of being dumped onto the screen in a batch charge. The coal when dumped onto the screen in a batch charge tends to slide over the screen without proper separation of the slack from the 4lump coal, whereas, if the coal is fed to the f screen gradually in a stream, it is spread out thin enough so that the slack has a chance to fall through the screen bars.

The weigh-basket of the present inventionis provided with means which insures such gradual discharge of the coal from the basket.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment of my invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of the invention, as changes may be made in the construction and operation therein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a coal tipple showing a weigh-basket embodying my invention associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the weigh-basket and screen; and

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of the weigh-basket- The frame work of the tipple is designated inthe drawings by the reference numeral 2 and the tilting portion of the car tracks extending from the mine onto the tipple by the reference numeral 3, a mine car 4 being shown in position on the tracks.

Hangers 5 are carried by the tipple frame 3o, 1923. serial No. 677,905.

work Vand these han-gers are connected by links 6 to toggle arms 7. Scale lever -arms r8 are connected to these toggle arms, the said lever arms being connected in the usual manner to a scale beam. IIa-nger rods 9 are connected at their upper ends vby links 10 to the toggle arms and at vtheir llower ends extend through horizontal transversely extending beams 11, coil springs 12 being interposed `between washers 13 on the lower ends of the rods and the said beams. The beams 11 carry longitudinally extending beams 14 from the rear ends of which extend vertical members 115.

A weigh-basket hopper 16 is carried -bv the beams 11 and 14 and members 15. This hopper has a forwardly inclined `rear, lend wall 17 and a rearwardly inclined lfront wall 18. The bottom and directly beneath the same is a-n endless conveyor 19. This conveyor is in the form of an endless steel apron carried by sprocketl chains which engage sprocket wheels n20 mounted upon shaft`s21 and 22. The shaft 22 has a gear23 mounted upon "one end thereof, the said gear being connected `by a gear train 24 with an electric 1notor'25, the said motor being adapted to be supplied with current from line wires '26 through the usual switch 27. y

In front of the conveyor 19 is positioned the usual inclined'screen 28, the screen being so positioned as to receive the coal directly from the conveyor. Extending across the front end of the hopper is a shaft 29 and journalled at their upper ends upon said shaft are a plurality of spaced vrods 30cmrying weights 31 at their lower ends. These weights overlie the front portion of theupper run of the conveyor and serve as retarding means for preventing a too rapid discharge of the coal onto the screen. Owing to the manner in which the weights are sup.- ported, however, they are adapted to swing outwardly and permit large lumps of coal to pass by them.- Extending forwardly from the front end of the hopper are side guards 32, these guards extending to the end of the screen and preventing the coal from falling over the sides of the forward end 'of the conveyor in being discharged onto the screen.

The operation of my improved weighbasket is as follows: The coal is dumped from the cars into the weigh-basket and of the hopper is open brought up hopper, means Vof the hopper weighed. The operator then starts the motor 25, thereby putting the endless conveyor in operation. This conveyor gradually and uniformly discharges the coal from the hopper, the operator being enabled to obtain any desired rate of discharge by regulating the speed of the motor.

The mechanism for gradually discharging the coa-l from the hopper is preferably carried, as shown, directly on the weigh-basket. This enables the top of theV screen to be to practically the level of the bottom of the weigh-basket, thus incurring the maximum economy in vertical space.

While the mechanism has been particularly designed, as shown in the accompanying drawings, for feeding coal from a weigh-basket directly onto a screen, it will be obvious that the coal might be radually fed onto a belt conveyor or other devices to which it is desirable that the coal be gradually fed.

While I have specifically illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the in vention is not limited to its illustrated embodiment, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: Y

1. The combination with a weigh-basket for'coal or the like, of an endless conveyor carried on said weigh-basket for forming a movable bottom for the weigh-basket hopper, means for driving said conveyor, and yielding means positioned over the forward end portion of said conveyor for retarding the discharge of the coal from the hopper by said conveyor, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a. weigh-basket for coal or the like having a hopper open at the bottom` and forward end, of an endless conveyor forming a movable bottom for said for driving said conveyor, a screen in front of said conveyor, and a plurality of weights suspended ffor swinging movement in the opening in the forward end and adapted to retard the discharge of the coal through said opening onto .said screen by said conveyor, substantially as described.

3. Weighing apparatus comprising a weigh frame adapted to move when properly Weighted, a hopper mounted thereon, means for insuring a gradual discharge of material from the hopper, and Vdriving means therefor mounted on the weigh frame, substantially as described. 'A

4. Weighing apparatus comprising a weigh frame adapted to move when properly weighted, a hopper mounted thereon having a discharge opening, means for insuring a gradual discharge of material from the hopper through said opening, Yand driving means for such means mounted on said Weigh frame, substantially as described.

5. Weighing apparatus comprising a weigh frame adapted to move when properly weighted, a hopper mounted thereon having a discharge opening, a conveyor cooperating with the discharge opening and mounted on the Weigh frame, and driving means for the conveyor also mounted on the weigh frame, substantially as described.

6. Weighing apparatus comprising a hopper adapted to move when properly weighted, means for insuring a gradual discharge of material from the hopper, and driving means therefor mounted in substantially fixed relation with the hopper, substantially as described.

7. Weighin apparatus comprising a hopper having a ischarge opening and adapted to move when properly weighted, means cooperating with said discharge openngufor insuring a gradual discharge of material from the hopper, and driving means therefor mounted in substantially fixed relation with the hopper, substantiallyas described.

8. Veighing apparatus comprising a. hopper adapted to move when properly weighted, the hopper having a discharge opening, a conveyor adjacent t e opening and mounted in substantially fixed relation relative to the hopper, and driving means for the conveyor mounted in substantially fixed yrelaiton relative to the hopper, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK L. IIFLEMING. 

